Aerial bomb



Dec. 10, 1957 H. G. LANKFORD AERIAL BOMB 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 20, 1954 INVENTOR.

HARRY stANKFORD ATTORNEY Dec. 10, 1957 H. s. LANKFORD 2,815,713

AERIAL-BOMB Filed Sept. 20, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HARRY G. LANKFORD A T TORNEY Dec. 10, 1957 H s. LANKFORD AERIAL BOMB 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 20, 1954 HARRY G. LANKFORD ATTORNEY States Unite This invention relates to projectiles. In a more specific aspect, this invention relates to aerial bombs carrying a bursting charge which is exploded by a fuse upon impact with an object or the ground. In a still more specific aspect, this invention relates to new ejecting means. In yet a more specific aspect, this invention relates to new means for ejecting the fuse cover caps of an aerial bomb so that the fuse may be activated while falling through the atmosphere, that is, so that the motion of the bomb and fuse through the air results in turning the propeller activation means of the fuse to activate the fuse so that it will explode the bursting charge of the bomb upon impact. In still another specific aspect, this invention relates to new bomb projectile means, particularly to new aerial bomb case means.

Aerial bombs have long been known in the art, such bombs carrying a bursting charge of explosives such as nitroglycerin or trinitrotoluene, napalm bombs containing such as highly inflammable hydrocarbon materials, or bombs containing inflammable metals such as magnesium and phosphorous, and the like. It is known to explode these bombs by fuses carried or contained in the nose and/or tail portions of the bomb, and the common or usual fuse for an aerial bomb is activated so that it will explode the bomb on impact by the expedient of means turned by a small propeller on the fuse, such propeller being turned as the result of the bomb falling by the force of gravity from an aircraft through the air. These aerial bombs have a nose cap and a tail cone covering the bomb fuses, which in most instances are used on both ends of the bomb, and ejecting means are used to separately eject the nose cap and tail cone covers for the fuses so that when the bomb falls through the .air the air can come in contact with the propeller and turn same and activate the fuses. For safety sake, arming means in the form of an arming wire has been used on the bombs to lock the propeller against turning until it is desired to release same prior to dropping the bomb, and it is known to incorporate such arming wire into the activating means for ejecting the end portion covers for the fuses. Aerial bomb cases have been constructed in end and center section members for ease of construction, shipping, and the like, and means have been incorporated with such to hang the bombs from an aircraft from which they are released to drop by the force of gravity. And, clamping or holding means to hold the end sections'mounted on the center section are known in the art, such being operatable from the outside of the bomb and holding the sections together on the inside of the bomb case, this being desirable from a standpoint of streamlining the bomb case. Preferred new clamping and holding means of my invention for my new bomb case as disclosed and depicted in use in this disclosure are disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 441,610, filed July 6, 1954. It is projectiles of the aerial bomb type with which my invention is particularly concerned, and the new ejecting means of my invention EQQ is especially adapted to eject the fuse covers of aerial bombs.

I have invented new projectile case means which has a first section having structure therewith to mount a fuse. A cover for the fuse is ejectably mountable on the first section. Bracket means is mounted on this first section and such has means therewith to receive the arming means of the projectile. The new projectile case of my invention has a spring loaded ejecting means which is releasable by the arming means, such being adapted to eject the cover of the fuse. The bracket means which is mounted on the first section holds the ejecting means in loaded position when the arming means is in place, and this ejecting means functions to eject the fuse cover from the first section upon removal of the arming means. The bomb case of my invention has at least one other section which is mountable on the first section. The sections of the new bomb case are preferably held together on the inside of the bomb case by the new spring loaded clamp means of my invention, referred to hereinbefore. These clamping means are operatable from without the bomb case, and these clamping means hold the sections together when the clamps are in their clamping position. I prefer that the new fuse cover ejecting means of my invention be used with the new bomb case of my invention. However, the new fuse cover ejecting means of my invention can be used with other projectiles, and the like, particularly aerial bombs of different structure than that of mine. The new ejecting means for the fuse cover of a bomb of my invention has a bracket mounted on the bomb, and this bracket has means to receive the bomb arming means. The new means has a spring loaded ejecting means which is releasable for action by these bomb arming means, and this ejecting means functions to throw off or eject the cover for the fuse. The bracket means is adapted and functions to hold the ejecting means in loaded position when the arming means of the bomb is in place, and the ejecting means functions and is adapted to throw off and eject the fuse cover from the bomb upon removal of the arming means so that the fuse of the bomb may be activated.

The new projectile case means of my invention because of its new structure has many advantages over the projectile cases of the prior art. It is easier to manufacture, ship and store, and in particular it is much easier and faster to assemble. The structure of the new projectile case of my invention results in a stronger projectile case with less weight. And, it has been found that the bomb is more reliable and safer to handle and use. The new ejecting means for the fuse covers of a projectile is a great step forward in the art. I have eliminated asubstantial number of parts and operations in making the ejecting means in relation to those of the prior art, and the ejecting means of my invention is far superior in ease of operation and reliability than those means known and used before my invention.

It is an object of my invention to provide new projectile means.

It is another object of my invention to provide new aerial bomb case means.

Another object of my invention is to provide new ejecting means for the fuse covers of projectiles.

Still another object of my invention is to provide new ejecting means which is particularly desirably used to eject or throw off the fuse covers of an aerial bomb so that air currents will turn the propeller means of the fuse to activate the fuse when the bomb falls through the air by the force of gravity from an aircraft.

Yet other objects of my invention are to provide new aerial bomb case means of great structural strength which are relatively light in weight and which are easy and economical to manufacture, and convenient and safe to use, and new fuse cover ejecting means for projectiles which are simple and reliable in operation, and easy and economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the new projectile case means and ejecting means of my invention will become apparent'to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure.

Drawingsaccompanyand are a part of this disclosure. Such drawings depict preferred specific embodiments of the .new projectile case means and ejection means of my invention, and his to .be understood that such drawings are not to unduly-limit the scope of my invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 .is a longitudinal elevation view of a preferred .specific embodiment of the new aerial bomb case of my 'jinvention employing apreferred specific embodiment of the new ejecting means of my invention for ejecting or throwing off the nose cap and .tail cone at the ends of the bomb whichcover the propeller activated fuses to explode the'bursting charge of the bomb upon impact.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation view'taken on line of Fig. 1 with the nose cap cut away, of the vnose fuse of the bomb of fFig; 1 and showing in side elevation anenlarged detailed view of the new ejecting means of-n iy inventionin loaded position with the arming wire forthe nose fuse of the bomb in place.

Big. '3 is .a perspective view of the plate member of my new ejecting means which is mounted .on and forms a part .of the bracket means of my new ejecting means.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the portion of the bracket assembly of my new ejecting means which is .mountedon the nose bulkhead of the bomb, and on the tail bulkhead.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. '1 showing preferred clamping means used to hold sections of the new bomb case of my invention together, .sl c'h clamping means being disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application as set forth hereinbefore.

Fig. 6 isan exploded view of these preferred clamping means.

Fig. ,7 is ,an elevation view taken on line 77 of Fig. l .with the bombshell cutaway and showing preferred specific bulkhead and hanger means of the new aerial bomb cas of my nt on.

F ig. .8 is a view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is .a perspective .view of the preferred specific embodiment of. the -new ejecting means of my invention shown mounted in loaded position .on the tailendbulkhead of the new bombcase ,of my invention as shown inFig. l and in the absence of the tail bomb fuse. The

nose cap and tail cone ejecting means preferred and shown in the drawings are identical.

.Eig. 1 0.is .a perspective view partly cut .away and partly in cross section of the tail cone of the new bomb ease of rnyinvention showing in detail preferred latch means to along with my new ejecting means hold the nose cap and tail cone on the ends of the bomb case.

Fig. 11 is an elevation view partly incross section and partly cutaway of the means to fill the bomb in the nose section thereof, including the removable cap to seal the filling aperture through the side of the nose section.

Following is a discussion and description of my invention. Such discussion and descriptionis made with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts or structure. The discussion and description is of preferred .specific embodiments of the new projectile .case and ejecting means ofmy invention, and it is to be understood .that the discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of my invention.

The new bomb case of my invention-depicted in the drawings has .a hollow, frusto-conoidal nose section 13, a hollow, frusto-c0noidal tail section and a hollow, cylindrical center section 17. These have a shell preferably of metal, such as aluminum or magnesium, attached to the bulkhead and supporting members of the bomb case in any suitable manner such as by rivets or welding the shell members to the bulkhead and supporting structure. The end sections 13 and 15 are disengageably mounted on the center section 17 by spring loaded clamps 19 which overlap when in mounted position a raised portion 21 of the end sections .zandan opposite raised portion 23 of the centersection 17, such raised portion 23 being the same on'each end of the center section 17. These circumferential raised ,portions support the bomb case and provide the holds for clamp bodies 19. Bolts 25 passing through raised portions 21 and 'threadedly secured to clamp :bodies 19 are used to position the clamp bodies 19 in open or closed position, that is, when in open position the clamp bodies are spaced from raised portions 21 of the end sections so that they can receive for mounting the center section 17. Bolts 25 are tightened to bring the clamp bodies '19 into contact with the'raisedportions21' and 23 to tightly secure the bomb sections together. An important feature .of the preferred clamp means is theleaf spring 27 which spring loads the clamp and maintains the clampbody spaced from raised portion v21 sothat the ends of center section 17 can be received when desired no matter what'position the end sections .13 and 15 are j. in. The hole in raised portion 21 for bolt 25 is preferably countersunk so that the top of the head of bolt 25 willbe even with or below the shell surface andthus streamline the'bombcase. These clamp means have been found very desirable in use, and are disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application referred to hereinbefore. An O-ring seal 29 in the slot of raised portion 23 is preferably used to provide a tight seal between the end sections 13 and 15 and the center section 17.

The center section ,17 of the .new bomb ease of my invention preferably has bulkheads 3'1 transversely mounted therein. These bulkheads 31 strengthen and support the bomb case and .provide attachment ,means for hangersfl33which areused toattachthe bomb to an aircraft for carryin'gto a target, and which are used in handling the bomb' during bursting .charge loading and during loading into the aircraft. The bulkheadand supporting assembly ,preferablyhas upper longitudinal plate means 35 ,form'ing apart of the upper super structure, forming apartof theattachment means for the hanger 33 and providing mounting means for the transverse bulkheads 31. The outer shell of the center section 17 of vthe bomb case is preferably reinforced by liner 37 which .forms ,a portion of thebulkhead super structure. I have found it preferable anddesirable to form the bomb superstructure and bulkheads 31 .out of light Weight metals such as aluminnm ,or magnesium.

The nose section ,13 of my new bomb case has an aperturetherein through which-the bomb is charged as shown .in Figs. 1 and '11. A removable cap 39 for sealing the charging aperture ,through the side of section '13 is desirably employed. Aconduit 41 extends inside nose section 13 through nose bulkhead 53 and the side of nose section 13.near.the 'base'thereof, and a likeconduit 41 extends through. the tail builkhead 45 and theside of'ta'il section 15 .near the base thereof. These conduits '41 carry ,arming wires 47 which in positionlead to fuses '49, one on each 'end of the bomb. Conduits 41 are rigidly mounted in end sections '13,and 15 in any suitable manner such as by welding. Ahollow nose cap 51 covers The ejecting means of my invention is the same for each end of the bomb and has a like bracket 57 mounted on bulkheads 43 and 45, respectively. This bracket is preferably rigidly mounted in any suitable manner such as by welding. The upper face portion of the bracket 57 has grooves 59 in the end portions thereof and an eye portion 61 with the eye thereof in alignment with the grooves to receive arming wire 47. An arming plate member 63 having grooves 65 in the end portions of the face thereof and an aperture 67 in the middle portion of the face thereof is ejectably mounted on bracket member 57 with eye member 61 projecting through aperture 67 and the raised portions resulting from grooves 65 fitting in grooves 59. The arming wire 47 passes through conduit 41 through grooves 65 and the eye formed by members 57 and 63 through groove 59 in the upper portion of bracket 57 and through a hole in the shaft for propeller 55. The arming wire prevents propeller 55 from turning until arming wire 47 is removed. The side portions of bracket members 57 have eye members 69 to receive the inner ends of the spring loaded ejecting arm 71. The ejector arm or spring is preferably made of spring wire material and is spring loaded by spiral springs 73 which are integral therewith. The outer end portion 75 of the ejector arm 71 fits into a slot 77 in the nose cap 51 and tail cone 53. When the arming wire 4-1 is in place and the spring arm 71 is mounted as shown in Figs. 2 and 9, this outer end portion 75 serves to hold the nose cap 51 and tail cone 53 on their respective ends of the bomb, and when in action to eject the nose cap and tail cone this portion 75 of ejector arm 71 contacts the nose cap 51 and tail cone 53 to tilt them outwardly away from bulkheads 43 and 45, respectively. With the arming wire in place, feet portions 79 of plate members 63 hold down the ejector arm 71 in spring loaded position. Safety means are provided to aid in handling the charged bombs in storage, aircraft loading, etc. This means comprising a safety pin 81 which passes through corresponding holes 83 in the side portions of bracket member 57 and plate member 63. This provides for locking the ejection arm in loaded position even though the arming wire is not in place as shown in Fig. 2. This safety pin 81 is removed before placing the nose cap 51 and tail cone 53 on their respective ends of the bomb in preparation for arming the bomb by withdrawing arming wires 47.

To aid in holding the nose cap 51 and tail cone 53 on their respective bomb ends, spring loaded latch means is used, such being oppositely disposed from end portion 75 of ejector arm 71 and the slot 77 into which it fits. These latch means are preferably a spring loaded arm or hook spring 85 attached to the inside of the end covers in one end by rivet means 86 and projecting out through a hole in the covers in the other end portion. A catch 87 is mounted on the bulkheads 43 and 45 to receive the hook portion of latch arm 55. I have found that in operation nose cap 51 and tail cone 53 fall easily and cleanly off the bomb upon operation of the ejecting arm 71, and the covers 51 and 53 are easily installed by fitting slot 77 over portion 75 of arm 71 and snapping latch means 85 into place on catch 87.

The operation of the new ejecting means of my invention is as follows. With the pin 81 removed and the armingwire 47 in place as shown in Fig. 2, the ejecting mechanism is operated by withdrawing arming wires 47 out of the end sections of the bomb. The arming wires 57 inside the bomb first are withdrawn from the shafts of propellers 55 releasing them for subsequent rotation. Then as arming Wires 47 are further withdrawn, plate members 63 are freed and forced outwardly by the tension on spring arms 71. Likewise, the springs through end portions 75 in contact with the covers 51 and 53 throw them outwardly to eject them from the ends of the bomb. As the bomb falls the propellers 55 in Contact and moving through the air rotate activating 6 the fuses and arming the bomb so that the bursting charge will explode upon thebomb hitting the ground or an object.

The bomb case and means shown is particularly preferred for a fire bomb with a fuse on either end. However, as one skilled in the art will readily see, the ejecting means can equally satisfactorily be used with a bomb employing only a single fuse in the nose end thereof.

The new nose and tail assemblies of the bomb means of my invention are decidedly advantageous over the presently used assemblies from the standpoint of simplicity and cost as well as reliability and ease in use. Actual facts and figures show that the nose bulkhead and parts forward of the new nose assembly of my invention are 7 in number as compared to 31 in the usual prior art assembly, excluding the nose cap andfuse which are the same in each case, and the number of operations to assemble is 14 in my new means as compared to 53 in the prior art nose assembly. In regard to the tail assembly and parts aft, the comparable figures are 7 parts and 14 operations in the new assembly of my invention, and 23 parts and 41 operations in the prior art assembly.

Clearly the new means of my invention is a great step forward in the art.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, various modifications of my invention can be made, or followed, in the light of this disclosure and discussion, without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure or from the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. Means for ejecting a fuse cover of a bomb having an arming wire to activate said fuse, which comprises, in combination, bracket means mounted on said bomb, a spring loadable arm member, said arm member mountable and positionable to contact said cover to eject said cover upon release of said arm member, an ejectable retaining member mountable on said bracket means, said retaining member when mounted having portions adapted to contact said arm member to hold same in loaded position, said retaining member and bracket means having means to receive said arming wire to hold said retaining member on said bracket and said spring loadable arm member in said loaded position, and said means for ejecting adapted to .eject said cover from said bomb 'upon removal of said arming wire froms aid bracket means and retaining member.

2. Means for ejecting a fuse cover of a bomb having removable arming means to activate said fuse, which comprises, in combination, bracket means mounted on said bomb having means to receive said arming means, spring loaded ejecting means releasable by said arming means and operatable to eject said cover, said bracket means having a releasable member having portions which when mounted contact said ejecting means to hold said ejecting means in loaded position and having other portions which receive said arming means to mount said releasable member on the rest of said bracket means and said bracket means being adapted to hold said ejecting means in loaded position with said arming means in place, and said means for ejecting being adapted to eject said cover from said bomb upon removal of said arming means.

3. Means for an elongated aerial bomb for ejecting an end cover thereof having a slot therein, such aerial bomb being explodable on impact by a fuse mounted on an end portion thereof which is covered by said end cover, such fuse having activation means including and operatable by a propeller which turns as said bomb falls through the atmosphere, which comprises, in combination: an arming wire; a bracket having side portions and a face portion rigidly mounted on said end portion of said bomb to project therefrom, said bracket having a groove in the end. portions of said face portion and an eye in the middle portion of said face portion to receive said arming wire.

and 'QPPQSiL ar me herst i aidside portions; an arm imimbs ifn nes ig wire moun ed on sai bracket the ends of saidwire arm member mounted in said side eye member sa armamemb h n sp ral pr n means integr ly f med ther w be prin lo d l n thegout er portions thereof adapted to iii; into said slot inrs i andm e oa qlcd aame ai omban t ej id nd-rove 12mm Sa d bom w e s id sp g is leased; P at mem e m n d o sai b a e her, said plate member having side portions, feet portions and a/faceportion with grooves :in the end portions corresponding to said bracket grooves to receive said arming wire, and an aperture in the middle portion to receive the portion of sa-id bracket member havingsaid eye, said plate member adapted to fit over said bracket and said feet adapted ,to pontact. said spring loaded arm member on each side '91? ,said bracket to keep same loaded and prevent ejection of said cover when said arming Wire is in place in saidgrooves of said plate and bracket and through the eye vof said bracket projecting through said plate mqmbor aperture; spring-loaded latch means mounted cinsaidcnd coyer opposite said slot contactable with a catch mounted on the end portion of said bomb to hold end cover pn-said bomb prior to ejection -a safety pin; apertures through said side portions of said bracket and plate member to receive said safety pin to hold said bracket and plate together in :the absence of said arming wire; and said means for ejecting adapted to eject said endcover from said bomb upon removal of said arming wire from said bracket and plate in the absence of said safety pin.

4. In an aerial bomb having an .end portion, a fuse mounted .on saidlend portion, an end cover for said fuse and an armingwire, means for ejecting said end cover so that said fuse can be activated, which comprises, in combination: a bracket mounted on said end portion of saidflb'o'mb; an ejecting arm member mounted on said brackehlsaidflejecting .arm member having spiral spring means integral therewith and adapted in its outer portion m contactsaidend cover .to hold same on saidcnd portion fsa'id .omb when said spring means is/held in force exerting po'sition'and to eject said cover from said bomb when said sprji-ng meansis released; a plate member mountable onsaidbracket, said plate member having portions position able when mounted to contact and hold said arm mfiinber when such is in said-force exerting position and said plate and bracket when mounted together having eye :means positioned-to receive said arming wire tohold sa d Plate tznlembcr .and :bracket together and said::arm member in said force exerting position with said cover on said bomb; latch, means mounted on said cover and said end portion of said bomb adapted to hold said-cover on said bomb ,when;said.eje,cting arm member is in said force exerting position and adapted to release said cover when said ejecting arm member ejects said cover; removable safety pin means operatably mountable on said plate and bracket .to hold said plate in mounted position on said bracket in the absenceof said arming wire; and said means for ejecting adapted .toeject said cover from said bomb upon removal of said arming wire from said bracket and plate in the absence, of said safety pin means.

5. In an aerial bomb having an end portion, a fuse mountable on said end portion, an arming wire for said fuse, an ejectab'le end cover for said end portion, vand means for ejecting said end cover, which comprises, in combination, bracket means mounted on said end portion of. said bomb, a spring loadable arm member mounted on said bracket, the outer portion of said arm member positionable to contact said cover to hold same on said end portion of said bomb when said arm member is spring loaded and said arm member operatable to eject said cover from said bomb upon release of said arm member, a retaining member mountable on said bracket means and ejectable by said arm member, said retaining member when mounted contacting and holding said arm member in loaded position, and said retaining member and bracket means being positionable to receive said arming Wire to hold said retaining member on said bracket and said arm member in said loaded position with said cover on said bomb; latch means mountable on said end portion of said bomb and positionable to hold said cover on said end portion of said bomb when said arm member is in loaded position; and said means for ejecting said end cover adapted to eject said cover from said bomb upon removal ofvsaid arming wire from said bracket means and retaining member.

FOREIGN PATENTS Sweden Mar. 21, 1944 

